The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today continued its battle against the federal government's plan to auction slots at the New York-area airports it oversees, joining a lawsuit filed earlier this month by the airlines' lobbying group, the Air Transport Association.
ATA on Aug. 11 filed the initial lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration
(BTNonline, Aug. 11).
The Port Authority earlier this month proposed to bar the recipient of any slots carriers receive through FAA auctions. FAA on Sept. 3 plans to auction a daily arrival and daily departure slot at Newark initially allocated for the now-folded Eos Airlines.
FAA earlier today initiated an investigation of the Port Authority's plan to bar use of slots gained through auction, threatening to withhold funding from the Port Authority. FAA today said it would evaluate whether the Port Authority is "unlawfully interfering with the airlines' ability to access takeoff and landing slots at the airports by discouraging bidders from participating in slot auctions."
FAA during this fiscal year allocated $27 million to John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. "If the proposal by the Port Authority is in fact discouraging open access to the airports, the Port Authority may no longer be eligible for FAA grants, or payments under existing grants, until the matter is resolved," FAA said.